Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has been handed one demerit point for running on the pitch during the third ODI against India in Chennai on Saturday.
It was a Level 1 breach of Article 2.10.10 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to a "batter causing deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch". As a result, one demerit point has been added to Shahidi's disciplinary record. It was his first offence in a 24-month period.
Shahidi was unofficially warned twice for running on the pitch during his innings of 102 from 131 balls. He was then handed an official warning in the 31st over, when he repeated the offence. Despite that, he was found guilty again on the last ball of the 40th over. The on-field umpires disallowed the single he took off that delivery, and handed India five penalty runs.
Shahidi admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Ranjan Madugalle, and hence there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Rohan Pandit, third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire Virender Sharma had levelled the charge.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Afghanistan lost the third ODI against India by nine wickets, and the three-match series 3-0.
